Substitute for pins in bowling-alleys



J. M. OURRIER. SUBSTITUTE FOR PINS, IN BOWLING ALLEYS.

No. 33,695. Patented Nov. 12, 1861..

- correct number.

UNITED "STATES PAT T OFFICE.

JA M ES C U R RI E it, (1) F NE W ll U It YI 0 RT, MA S SA till i. S E'lflh SUBSTITUTE FOR PINS IN BOWLlNG-ALLEY'S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,695, dated November19, 1861.

To all whom it may concern".-

Ee it known that 1, JAMES M. CURRIER, of Newburyport, in the county ofEssex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new Machine toTake the Place of Pins as Used in Bowling-Alleys in the Game of Bowls;and I do-herebydeclare that the following is a full and exactdescription of the same.

The nature of my invention is to provide a means of answeringthe-purpose of bowls and at the same time to dispense with theattendanc'e necessary to set up pins and return the balls and therebysave expense and annoy ance.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention,I willproceed to describe its construction and operations.

The machine is composed of nine upright pedals, each numbered and hungon an iron rod a little above the center; nine ratchets, one at the topof each pedal, hung on an iron rod runningthrough the machine; ninenumber-rods with numbers attached correspond ing with numbers on thepedals; two padded bars which run through the machine for the pedals tostrike against, and onebar running through the machine above the paddedpedalbar for the ratchets to strike against. Two bars run through themachine --abo ve the ratchet-bar with nine holes,- in each fen thenumber-rodstoslide in. On the top bar is a sliding bar, which is movedby lineor wire and throws the numbers up after being sprung by pedalsand ratchets. A dial may be aflixed to the back of the machine or otherposition for the purpose of keepingthe nu mber-of games played. Thisdialplate is.

notched on the outer edge and is numbered on the face. The plate ismoved by a ratchet, which is thrown bya lever, to which is affixed acord or wire attached to that employed to raise the number-bar and thusexposes the Two bars run through the top of the machine to hold the dialratchetbar. t the back of the machine is an inclined groove to conducttheballs to a trough. The trough is hoisted by a line passing over apulley and discharges the balls on an inclined conductor, on which theyroll to the head of the alley. The lines to hoist the balltrough, raisethe number-barfandmore the dial-lever are all attached to a lever at t1head of the alley, all of which machine ano ball apparatus is shown inthe drawings accompanyingm'hich make a part of this specification, andare particularly described by letters and figures below.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine and apparatus fordepositing, hoisting, and returning the balls. Fig. 2 is alongitudinalelevat-ion of the interior of the ma chine. Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view of a part of the interior of the machine withtrough and groove. Fig. 4. is a horiiontal sectional view of theinterior of the machine,- showing the position of the pedals, ratchets,&c. ff Fig. 5 isa iew of one of the numberplates, showing a portion ofthe rods and pertions of bars described below.

Letters A A A in Figs. 2, 3,and 4 designate the pedals, which are paddedon the lower end and numbered.

Letter 13 in Fig. 3 designates an iron brace through which the pedal-rodpasses, running from the two padded bars to support and stiffen the.pedal-rod U.

Letter C in Fig. 3 designatesaspiral spring attached to pedal A and barD to bring the pedalagainstbar E after being sprung by by the ball, andto form a rest for said pedal.

Letter D in Fig. 3 is a bar running through the machine, to which thespiral springs Care attached. 1

Letter-E in Fig. 3 designates a padded bar running through. the machineto keep the pedals A A A in an upright position.

Letters F F in Figs. 2 and 3 designate a padded bar running through themachine in front of the pedals A A A to stop them as the ball passesunder.

Letters G G in Figs. 2 and 3 designate abar running-through the machineto stop the ratchets K K K after being struck by the pedals A A A.

Letters H H II in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, designate two bars runningthroughthe machine with nine holes in each for the'number-rods J J J toplay in.

Letters I I in Figs. 2 and 3 designate a sliiling bar, to which isattached a line at each end to raise the rod J and numbers N when theyare down.

Letters .7 J J in Figs. 2, 3, and designate.

rods in which are notches to receive ratchets K K K and to form a restfor bar I. Said rod has a projection on the top to which thenumber-plates N are fastened.

Letters K K K in Figs. 2 3, and -t designate ratchets operated by thepedals A A A and spiral spring 'L, designed to hold up number-plateswhen raised by bar I.

Letter L in Fig. 3 designates a spiralspring to drawback the ratehets KK K when touched by the pedals A A A.

Letter NY in Fig. 3 designates a beveled bar running through the machineback of the ratchcts K K K, to which the spiral springs l. are attached.The lower edge (it the bar forms a; rest for the ratchet.

Letters N N in Figs. 3 and 5 designate the plates upon which are numbersdenoting the game.

Letters (l in Figs. 2, and designate the dial-platc to keep and show thein umber of games played.

Letters 1 I l? in Figs. 3 and 1t designate two bars running at the topof the machine, affixed to which is the lever R to operate the ratchetS, and to one of which is fastened the spiral spring '1. I Letters R Rin Figs. 3 and t designate the lever to which the ratchet S is attached.

Letters S S in Figs. 3 and i designate the ratchet which moves thedial-plate.

Letter '1. in Fig. t designates the spiral spring to throw back thelever R. Letter I in Fig. 3 designates the iron rod on which the pedalSAA A swing.-- Letter V in Fig. 3 designates the iron rod on which theratchets K K K swing.

Letters \V W in Fig. 2 designate-pulleys for line X to pass over.

Letter X in Fig. 2 designates aline attached to bar 1 to raise thenumbers, and to which is attached the line. to move the lever B.

1 in Fig. 3 designates an inclined circular groove placed behind themachine to receive the balls.

2 in Fig. 3 designates a box or trough for the balls to pass into fromthe groove 1.

3 3 in Figs. 2 and 3 designate the grooveconductor to convey the ballsto the place where the player stands.

i in Fig. 3 designates the line to raise the trough or box to depositthe balls on the conductor.

5 in Fig. 3 designates the pulley over which the cord 4 passes.

I in Fig. 2 designates a lever placed at the head of the alley where theplayer stands, to which lever is allixed the lines i and X to raise theballtrough 2, the bar I I, an d to move the lever it, all in one motion.

The machine is operated bythe balls striking the pedals A A A at thelower end, swinging them so that the top end comes in contact with theratchets K K K, throwing the top end of the ratchet out of the notch onfigure-rods J J .l', which drops from under the top panel'of tl e casethe figure-plates N and exposes them to view 011 the front of themachine, exhibiting numbers corresponding with the number on the pedalsA A A, which are struck. The balls pass under the pedals A A A into thecircular groove 1, and from thence roll into trough f2. \Vhen threeballs have been rolled and have passed into trough 2, a movement 'of thelever 6, to which the lines described-are attached, raises the trough 2,deposits the balls on conductor- 3, draws up the numbers N, which havebeen dropped, and moves the lever R, which also moves dialplate 0. Thisdial-plate is marked by lines and figures corresponding with notches,and

may be placed on different parts of the Ina-- chine or dispensed withaltogether.

The machine may be constructed in different styles and sizes, adapted toall alleys, and may be set thereon in different ways.

*hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent,is, first, the sus pended pedals A AA; second, the arrangement,corisistin'gof the devices 1, 2, 4, and 5 for elevating the balls anddepositing them on the inclined plane 3; third, the devices for raising,adjusting, and operating the number-plates'N N N; fourth, the devicesfor raisin g the nu tuber-plates, elevating and depositing the balls,and recording the number of.

games played, all by a single operation, as de scribed; fifth, the dial0 for recording the games, as arranged and described, in combinationwitha bowling-alley; sixth, a bowlingalley comprising the above devices,constructed and arranged as fully shown and described in the foregoingspecification and the drawings accompanying the same.

JAS. M. CURRIER.

Witnesses:

SAML. A. SMITH, EDWIN F. WELoH.

